SOMEBODY in North Wales could hold the vital final clue of how a rusting cash box containing the last known belongings of a tragic soldier turned up at a car boot sale 61 years after his death.

SOMEBODY in North Wales could hold the vital final clue of how a rusting cash box containing the last known belongings of a tragic soldier turned up at a car boot sale 61 years after his death.

The box was bought for a &#xA3;1 from a car boot sale at Ocean Beach, Rhyl, by Ann Crowley, 56, from Rusholme, Manchester, who has a caravan at Abergele.

"I have no idea of how it got to Rhyl,"admitted Mrs Crowley, who has since reunited the possessions of Private William James Armstrong with his sister and last surviving relative Evelyn Loseby, 80, from Netherley, Merseyside. William died days after being involved in a parachute accident in 1942.

The tin contained his notebook, three packets of cigarettes, a notification of his death, and movingly "his and hers" wed-ding button holes.

"It was lying on the ground along with a lot of other things. I don't know how it got to North Wales but I suppose it could have been the result of a house clearance," said Mrs Crowley.

Mrs Loseby wept for joy when she was reunited with her late brother's possessions.

She said: "Our William was training to be in the Parachute Regiment in 1942 in Alton, Hampshire. He was doing his last parachute jump, but when he jumped he landed on an electricity pylon and was electrocuted and badly burned.

"I have no idea how his possessions ended up in North Wales. I am just so glad to have them back."